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Latest Reports Inflation
As expected, Indonesian inflation remained relatively low in December 2024, at 0.44 percent month-on-month (m/m), amid the year-end holiday season (Christmas and New Year celebrations).
On Friday 03 January 2025, Indonesia Investments released the December 2024 edition of its monthly report. The report presents a selection of subjects (related to the economy and politics of Indonesia) that were relevant in December 2024.
After a six-month period of either deflation or very low inflation (all driven by easing food prices), the month of November finally brought some more significant inflation to Indonesia as we approach the end of 2024 (meaning: arrival of the festive season).
Between May and September 2024, Indonesia had experienced a (remarkable) five-month deflation streak, driven by contracting food prices. And so, we were certainly quite interested in the latest consumer price index (CPI) data that were released by the Statistical Office of Indonesia (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS) on 1 November 2024.
Something very unusual is happening in Indonesia (something we normally only see during crises). The latest consumer price index data released by the Statistical Office of Indonesia (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS) show that Indonesia experienced its fifth consecutive month of deflation in September 2024.
On Friday 4 October 2024 Indonesia Investments released the September 2024 edition of its monthly report. The report discusses a range of economic, political and social topics to assess the state of the Indonesian economy.
Last month it was remarkable that Indonesia experienced three straight months of inflation (this rarely happens unless a crisis occurs). Considering August is typically a month without inflationary pressures this streak was expected to continue. Indeed, the Statistical Office (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS) confirmed that deflation was 0.03 percent month-on-month (m/m) in August 2024.
On Friday 6 September 2024 Indonesia Investments released the August 2024 edition of its monthly report. This report discusses various economic, political and social topics that were relevant (to Indonesia) in the month of August 2024.
Again, and in contrast to our expectations, Indonesia’s consumer price index showed deflation. After 0.03 percent month-on-month (m/m) of deflation in May 2024, the latest data from Indonesia’s Statistical Office (Badan Pusat Statistik, or BPS) show a 0.08 percent (m/m) deflation rate in June 2024.
On Friday 05 July 2024, Indonesia Investments released the June 2024 edition of its monthly report. The report zooms in on the latest economic, political and social developments that (potentially) impact on the investment environment of Indonesia.
Latest Columns Inflation
Today, Bank Indonesia surprised many analysts and investors by raising its benchmark interest rate by 50 bps to 6.50 percent. Indonesia's central bank assessed that this measure is the correct one with regard to supporting the IDR rupiah (which is one of the worst Asian currencies against the US dollar this year) and to fight higher inflation after the government decided to cut fuel subsidies in June. It expects inflation to peak in July at about 2.3 percent (month to month) but to moderate soon afterwards.
Although the main stock index of Indonesia (IHSG) ended on a positive note last Friday (05/07) by rising 0.46 percent to 4,602.81, foreign investors still sold a net IDR 262 billion (USD $26.5 million) worth of shares, while the value of transactions in the regular market was only IDR 3.17 trillion (USD $320.2 million). The rise of the IHSG at the end of last week was more due to support from Asian indices that were up after the European Central Bank and Bank of England kept interest rates at 0.5 percent.
Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) expects that economic growth of Indonesia in 2013 will not meet the government's target as has been set in the revised State Budget (APNB-P). Last month, both government and parliament of Indonesia agreed on a revised GDP growth assumption of 6.3 percent. However, Bank Indonesia believes that, due to slowing domestic consumption and investments in the current global economic context, the growth is more likely to fall between 5.8 and 6.2 percent.
Without any support from the United States, where Wall Street was closed due to the 4th of July festivities, stock indices in Europe found their way up. President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, caused positive market sentiments after stating that the interest rate will remain low for a long while and that the current monetary (easing) policy will remain unchanged. Stock indices in Germany, France, Great Britain and the Netherlands went up between 2.1 and 3.1 percent on Thursday's trading day (04/07).
Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) took another large blow on Wednesday (03/07). The index fell 3.20 percent to 4,577.15 points as investors were worried after reading the revised outlook of the World Bank. The institution downgraded its forecast for economic growth in Indonesia in 2013 from 6.2 percent to 5.9 percent. Higher inflation, because of the recent subsidized fuel price hike, is expected to result in lower domestic consumption. The IDR rupiah posted a slight weakening to IDR 9,941.
The World Bank has revised down its forecast for economic growth in Indonesia in 2013 to 5.9 percent from its original estimate of 6.2 percent. Similarly, the institution has altered its forecast for economic growth in 2014 from 6.5 percent to 6.2 percent. The revised figures were published in July's edition of the Indonesia Economic Quarterly (IEQ), titled 'Adjusting to Pressures'. The World Bank's forecast is also in sharp contrast with the GDP assumption of the Indonesian government, which puts economic growth in 2013 at 6.3 percent.
Last week, Indonesia's main index (IHSG) rebounded 303 points to 4,818.90. After weeks of foreign outflows, Indonesia finally experienced capital inflows again during the last two days of the week. For example, on Friday (28/06) foreigners bought IDR 960 billion (USD $97.0 million) more Indonesian shares than they sold. However, considering the full week, foreigners still recorded net selling amounting to IDR 1.02 trillion (USD $103 million). Do these last couple of days tell us that the bearish market is over? Lets take a closer look.
After several years of significant foreign capital inflows into Indonesia, a sharp contrast has been visible in recent weeks. Global panic that followed in the days after Ben Bernanke announced that the Federal Reserve intends to withdraw its quantitative easing program in 2014 (if economic recovery of the USA continues), hit Indonesia hard. It triggered a massive capital outflow from the country's stock exchange (IDX) as well as from government securities (Surat Berharga Negara, or SBN).
Similar to the Jakarta Great Sale event, Indonesia's main stock index (IHSG) trades its stocks at low prices as foreign investors have sold large parts of their Indonesian stock assets in recent weeks. Last week, foreign investors sold IDR 4.9 trillion (about USD $492.4 million), meaning that this year's accumulated foreign net buying has evaporated. Will these sales continue? Yes, I think so. Foreigners have invested about IDR 144 trillion in Indonesia's capital markets between 2007 and Q1-2013. As such, there is still plenty to sell.
It is official. As of Saturday 22 June 2013, after months of uncertainty and speculation, the price of Indonesia's subsidized fuel has finally been raised. Starting from 0.00 am (midnight) on Saturday, all Indonesians have to pay a higher price of gasoline and diesel. Gasoline has been raised by 44 percent to IDR 6,500 (USD $0.66) and diesel by 22 percent to IDR 5,500 (USD $0.56) per liter. The minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, made the announcement on late Friday evening, after which the hike took effect immediately.
